Question

Read lines 15-17 from the poem, "Storm Warnings."

Between foreseeing and averting change
Lies all the mastery of elements
Which clocks and weather-glasses cannot alter.

Based on the lines, what are two interacting central ideas of the poem?

A
Events happen in life based on our previous choices and decisions, and we are able to predict what comes next, just as we can predict the weather.

B
Events happen in life regardless and often contrary to one’s attempts at prediction, and we cannot stop troubles but instead just protect ourselves.

C
Humans have mastered a number of tools for prediction of weather, and therefore we can protect ourselves from catastrophic events.

D
Humans can predict acts of nature because of technology, and yet humans cannot predict what events in life may occur as time passes.

Answer 1

Based on the lines, the two interacting central ideas of the poem are:

B. Events happen in life regardless and often contrary to one's attempts at prediction, and we cannot stop troubles but instead just protect ourselves.

Step-by-step explanation:

"Storm Warnings" is a poem by Adrienne Rich in which the speaker analyzes how little we can do in terms of predicting and changing the outcome of things. She has instruments to help her see time and weather, but she "know[s] better than the instrument." She did not need a weather glass to know a storm was coming. Also, the weather glass may warn her, but it cannot do anything to protect her. She must protect herself.

The same idea can be extended to life in general. Having a clock does not mean we are masters of time. Life events will come, independently of how well we can foresee them, and there is not much we can do to stop them. All we can do is protect ourselves: ". . . the wind will rise, / We can only close the shutters."

With that in mind, we can choose letter B as the best option.